BARBARA JEAN MONTGOMERY

1918 - 2014

Barbara Jean Montgomery, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, died Monday, October 27, 2014, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, DeKalb, where she had resided for more than three years.

Born October 20, 1918, on the family farm in Afton Township south of DeKalb, Barbara was the daughter of John H. and Martha M. (McCormick) McMenamin. She was always a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and loyal friend. Barbara’s positive attitude was a blessing she shared with everyone. All four of her grandparents were born in Ireland, and she was very proud of her heritage, sharing her Irish sparkle with many whom she met along the way.

Barbara attended grade school and high school in Waterman and received an associate’s degree from Northern Illinois State Teachers College, later NIU, in 1938, after which she received her teaching certificate. She taught grades 1 through 8 at Baker School, a one-room school south of DeKalb, and later taught at Blaine Street School in Batavia. When illness struck her father, and Barbara was needed back home, she worked in the office at the Montgomery Ward store in DeKalb, where she met her future husband.

Barbara married J. Robert Montgomery on September 4, 1943, at the St. Mary rectory in DeKalb. They spent more than 34 years of marriage together, deeply in love, until his death in 1978. Following his death, she devoted herself to her children, grandchildren, extended family and many friends.

As their children grew older, Barbara worked part-time alongside her husband, who was manager of Bowman’s Shoe Store for 25 years in downtown DeKalb, and she taught one year at St. Mary School in DeKalb. She then worked at First National Bank, later Castle Bank, in DeKalb until her retirement. Following retirement, she worked part-time in the offices at Jay Elliott Photography, and Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital. She was a former member of Kishwaukee Community Hospital Auxiliary, where she had worked as a volunteer, and DeKalb Women’s Club and Altrusa. She was a life-long member of St. Mary Catholic Church, and a life-time member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 996.

She is survived by her daughter, Jean (Joe) Bjorn of Sycamore; three sons, Richard (Andrea) Montgomery of Freeport, William (Mollie) Montgomery of Sycamore and John (Lia) Montgomery of Fontana, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, Jeff (Erin Fitzpatrick-Bjorn) Bjorn of Portland, Oregon, Ryan Bjorn of Menasha, Wisconsin, Spencer Montgomery of Chicago, Stephanie (Christopher) Kemp of Somonauk, Scott (Lindsay) Montgomery of Algonquin, Carolyn (Bill) Wenckebach of Wonder Lake, Jennifer (Fraser Moss) Montgomery, M.D., of Bay Village, Ohio, Martha Montgomery, M.D., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Robert Montgomery of New Orleans, Louisiana; eleven great-grandchildren, Alex and Quenten O’Connell, Evan Kemp, Tyler Bunders, Regen Montgomery, Brooke Montgomery, Katie Montgomery, Andrea Paquin, Jocelyn Wenckebach, and Ewan and Callum Moss; and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Other surviving family members include her own 17 nieces and nephews, and three nieces and nephews of her late husband.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; grandson, Eric C. Montgomery; brothers, Joseph P., Robert J. and Victor A. McMenamin; sister, M. Claire McMenamin; and nephew, Kevin McMenamin.

The family sincerely thanks Dr. Thakkar and the marvelous staff at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, as well as KishHealth System Hospice, for their uncommon care and unconditional affection for Barbara as she slowly transitioned from an active live among family and friends in this life to her eternal life with those who have been waiting for her and whom she has longed to see once again.

The funeral Mass will be held at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, November 1, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell celebrating. Interment of cremated remains will be at a later date at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, October 31, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb, with a wake service at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Barbara Jean Montgomery Memorial Fund, sent to the Montgomery Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.